George h



(No Model.)

G. H. RIOKE.

HANGER FOR TROLLEY WIRES.

No. 509,328. Patented Nov. 21, 1893.

Inv'ntar A ZZarney Wii'n sses "UNITED" STATES;

PATENT OF I E.

GEORGE H. RIOKE, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, AssIGNoR or rrIREE-EoURTHs TO o EN M. HILLAND, MICHAEL A. MCGUIRE, AND oHARLEs o. AGIN, OF

- sAME PLA E HANGER FOR TROLLEYY-WIREVS. I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '509,328,dated November 21, 1 893.

Application filed August 7, 1893.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. RIoKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oincinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have 5 invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hangers for Trolley-Wires, of which the following is a specification, reference be ing had to the accompanying drawings.

The object and nature of my invention will [0 be apparent from the detailed description and claims hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings:Figure 1, is a side elevation of a hanger embodying my invention in an operative position, and Fig.

2, is an end view of same. Fig. 3, is a side elevation of one end of the hanger shown in precedin g figures, said viewshowin g the clamp elevated with the trolley-wire removed, and

Fig. 4, is an end view taken at left hand in Fig. 3. Fig. 5,isaside elevation of the hanger (partially broken'away) taken at left hand in Fig. 1, illustrating the clamp swung outward sufficiently to permit the jaws of the hanger to expand slightly in order to permit of the trolley-wire being tightened, and Fig. 6, is a transverse section taken on dotted line 6, 6, of Fig. 5 and looking toward the left hand in said latter figure. Fig. 7, is a horizontal section on dotted line 7, 7, of Fig. 5, looking up- 0 ward. Fig. 8-, is a detached perspective view of the preferred form of cap for making a connection between my improved hanger and any of the well-known forms of insulators.

My improved trolley-wire hanger is prefer- 5 ablyconstructed as'follows,viz: 'A, represents the two plates which terminate in jaws, a, said plates being rigidly connected along their top edge. In the drawings said plates are shown in two separate parts: but, if desired 40 said plates maybe formed of one integral piece by bending the metal, centrally, upon itself. The plates are also preferably provided with upwardly projecting ears, a which latter are pivoted within the slot 1) of cap B, which latter is provided at top with a screwthreaded opening, b within which is screwed the stem of the insulator O, to which is attached the guy-wire, Q The plates, A, and

their respective jaws a are stamped from suitable sheet-metal, preferably brass, the outer loss of generating power. is preferably provided with an internal horizontal rib, a (see Figs. 4 and 6.) which will SeIiaINoASMSQL (No medal.)

edgeot saidjaws being drawn out or turned down thin, by reason of which said jaws will grasp the trolley-wire D (in the mannerhereinafter set forth) and at the same time not project below the lowest point on the surface of said wire, thus producing a smooth continuous surface over which the trolley (not shown) travels, said smooth surface having a tendency to prevent sparking and consequent One of the plates A impinge against the adjacent plate, causing the jaw-portions of said plates to separate slightly when the clamps (hereinafter set forth) are partially or wholly removed. The plates, A, are provided with a suitable clamping device for compressing the jaws a firmly and securely to the trolley-wire, one form of such device being shown, which. consists of the two bifurcated clamps, E, pivotally con-' nected to said plates near their top end portions, as shown, the bifurcated portions, 6, of said clamps being adapted to grasp the sides of said plates, immediately above their jaws, and tightly compress the latter against the trolley-wire when said clamps are forced inward by a hammer or other suitable tool.

The clamps E; when constructed'as shown, consist of two strips of suitable metal stamped in angular shape substantially as shown and riveted or otherwise'suitably connected together; Itispreferred to form one or more transverse grooves e on the inner face of one bifurcated portion e, which groove is adapted to fit overand lock with a suitable rib or ribs a on. the plates A, in order to retain the clamp in proper position. 'In' the drawings I have illustrated but one of the bifurcated arms'eas being provided with the lock-groove; but, if desired, both of said arms, on each clamp, may be provided with such groove or grooves, in which event each plate A will be provided at eachside with corresponding lock-ribs.

It is preferred toemploy two ribs' a on one side of each plate A, and a corresponding number of grooves e on one arm e'of each clamp, said grooves and ribs at oneend of the hanger being on one side thereof, and at ICC 5 and 6, in which position said jaws will expand slightly but still uphold the trolleywire and at the same time permit of its being drawn horizontally through the hanger when tightening said wire. When the clamps are moved outward, as shown in Figs. 5 and' 6,

the outer groove on each clamp will engage with the outer rib on the plates, thus "retaining the latter and their-jaws in a slightly expanded'state for the purpose aforestated.

The operation of myim'provedtrolley-wire hanger, is as follows: The hangers are first secured to'the insulators on the guy-wires,

the clam'pson said hangers being thrown outward, as shown in Figs. 3'and 4. The trolley w'ireis' next inserted from beneath between the jaws of the hangers, at which timethe clamps are lowered and driven to place, thus lockin'gsaid jaws into contact with'th'e trolley-wire, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. If desired, said. clamps may be only partially 'lockefd,a's shown in Figs. 5 and 6, untilthe entire line of wire is put up, when the latter'can be drawn up and tightened, and the'clamps are then driven to place, as'aforest'ated. To loosen the clamps at any point along the line, all that is requiredis for'the line-man'to insert a suitable tool between the'ends of the hanger-plates and the clamps, and, by prop erly manipulating said tool, said'clamps will yield-slightlyand permit of their being moved outward as'shown in Fig. 5 or Fig. 3. The plates, A, being rigidly connected together at their top edge, will readily expand at their lower jaw-portion so soon as the pressure of the clamps is partially or entirely removed.

The advantages of my invention are apparent, being simple and effective'in operation, andcheap of manufacture. The facility afforded, by means of the pivoted clamps, for slightly expanding the jaws of the hanger, as

' setforth, is a very great advantage, as by this means the wire on any line can be tightenedwithont interfering with the travel on said 1in'e,the wire being held in suspension. The "facility. alforded'for drawing the trolleywire through the hangers while said wire is in an operative position, is avery great saving of valuable time,.and by this means the guywires are not drawn out of line or broke'n,-as is nowc'ommonly done.

While the specific form of clamp-device herein set forth is, for practical purposes, preferred, I do not limit my invention to said s'pejcific' form.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

twoplates suitably connected at their top edge, and means for causingthe'lower edge of said plates to spring outward, said lower edge of each plate terminating in a jaw a, in combination with bifurcated clamps for grasping said plates near their end portions,

and means for locking said clamps thereon,

substantiallyas set forth.

2. A hanger for trolley-wires, consisting of two plates connected at their top edge, said plates terminating in jaws a, in combination with bifurcated clamps e for grasping said plates near their end portions, for the purposesspecified.

3. A hanger for trolley-wires, consisting of two plates connected attheir top edge, each plate terminating. in a jaw, in combination with bifurcated clamps, as E,,pivotal1y connected to said plates, substantially as set forth;

4. A hanger for trolley-wires, consisting of plates A connected together at their top edge,

'each plate terminating'in a jaw, a, incombination with the bifurcated clamps-E'pivotally connected to said plates near their top edge and near the ends thereof, the arms 6 of said" clamps being adapted tog-rasp and compress said plates, and a suitable device ;for locking said clamps on'said plates, substantially as set forth.

5. A hanger for trolley-Wires consistingof two plates rigidly connected at their top edge, each plate terminating in aja'w,and;a rib a on one side ofsaid plates, ihcombination with clamps E pivotall'y connected to said plates, one arm e of each clamp havinga groove 6 therein, substantially as a'n'dfor the purposes set forth.

6. A hanger for trolley-wires, consisting of 8 plates A connected together at their top edge, (said plates having the upwardly projecting ears 0t and lower terminating'jaws a, in combination-with screw-cap B having, a transverse slot 17 therein within which the-ears a are pivoted, and means for connecting said cap to the insulator, as set forth.

7. A hanger for trolley-wires consisting of the two plates A stamped from sheet-metal and connected together at their top, edge, said plates each having a jaw a, in combination with suitable clamps for compressingand locking said jaws against-the trolley-wire as set forth.

8. A hanger for trolley-wires consisting'of the twoplates connected at their'top edge, each plate terminating in a lower jaw, in combination with'the bifurcated clamps, one arm e'of each clamp being bent outward'at at angle near its point to'permit of a-slight expansion ofsaidjaws' when said clamps are moved, substantially as set forth;

GEORGE H; RICKE.

,V fitnessesz CHARLES J. RUFFIN, O. M. HILL.

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It is hereby certified that the name of the first-mentioned assignee in Letters Patent No. 509,328, granted November 21, 1893, upon the application of Geo'rge H. Ricke, of Cincinnati, Ohio, for an improvement in Hangers fo'r Trolley-Wires, was erroneously written and printed Owen M. Hilland, whereas said name should have been written 7 and printed Owen M. Hill; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 5th day of December, A. 1893.

JNO. M. REYNOLDS, Assistant Secretary of the Interior.

[sEAn] lonntersigned JOHN S. SEYMOUR.

Commissioner of Patents. 

